Govt abandoned me to starve in India – Nambooze

Residents join MP Nambooze at her home. She decried the changes in the Opposition leadership in Parliament and different committees (PML Daily PHOTO)

MUKONO – Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze has accused the government of not providing enough money for her treatment in India and praised Dr Kiiza Besigye for paying her bills.

Ms Nambooze successfully underwent a couple of surgeries at Manipal Hospital India, including bone marrow aspiration surgery last month after her arrest and detention over her comments following the assassination of Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga.

Speaking after Holy Mass held at her home in Mukono on Saturday, Ms Nambooze said medication and upkeep were very expensive and had it not been for Dr Besigye, she would not have been treated.

“I have been starving, no money for my medication and I yet I had hope in the government to cater for my bills but the ministry of Heath wrote a letter to Parliament and blocked my assistance,” she said at a function attended by top opposition leaders, among them Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Mr Muwanga Kivumbi MP Butambala.

“I thank Dr Besigye for having that good heart of caring because I wish he wasn’t the one I really don’t want I would have done,” Ms Nambooze said.

She also expressed gratitude to all the people who have stood by her spiritually, morally and financially since last year when she got injuries during a scuffle in Parliament as the opposition MPs protested against the move to table the Age limit Amendment Bill.

According to Ms Nambooze, Parliament released $7,500 (about Shs29m) for her review but it did not consider the fact that she would be treated and re-operated.

However, earlier, Mr Chris Obore, the Director of Communication and Public Affairs at Parliament, had said Shs108 million had been deposited on the legislator’s bank account to cater for her treatment, per diem and travels with her husband.